SSP Security Technology & Systems 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In CCTV systems, what does 'resolution' expressed in TVL (TV lines) measure?
- The horizontal detail a camera can capture across the width of the image (Correct answer)
- The number of frames recorded per second
- The maximum distance at which a face can be identified
- The compression ratio of stored video footage
Correct answer: The horizontal detail a camera can capture across the width of the image
TVL measures horizontal resolution—the number of distinct vertical lines a camera can resolve across the full width of the image, indicating image detail quality.
Question 2: Which access control model grants permissions based on a user's role within an organization rather than individual identity?
- Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
- Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) (Correct answer)
- Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Correct answer: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
RBAC assigns permissions to roles (e.g., manager, guard, technician) and users inherit those permissions by being assigned to a role, simplifying large-scale permission management.
Question 3: What is the key advantage of fiber optic cable over copper cable for perimeter intrusion detection?
- Immune to electromagnetic interference and very difficult to tap without detection (Correct answer)
- Lower cost and easier to install in wet environments
- Higher voltage capacity for powering sensors
- Better compatibility with legacy analog alarm systems
Correct answer: Immune to electromagnetic interference and very difficult to tap without detection
Fiber optic cables transmit light rather than electrical signals, making them immune to EMI, lightning, and virtually impossible to tap without causing a detectable signal disruption.
Question 4: What does 'OSDP' stand for and what is its security relevance?
- Open Supervised Device Protocol — a secure, bidirectional communication standard for access control readers (Correct answer)
- On-Site Detection Protocol — a perimeter alarm standard
- Operational Security Defense Policy — a facility security framework
- Object Sensor Data Platform — an IoT security integration standard
Correct answer: Open Supervised Device Protocol — a secure, bidirectional communication standard for access control readers
OSDP (Open Supervised Device Protocol) is an access control communication standard that supports AES-128 encryption and bidirectional supervision between readers and controllers.
Question 5: In the context of alarm systems, what is a 'supervisory signal'?
- A signal indicating a problem with the alarm system itself, such as a low battery or open tamper switch (Correct answer)
- An alarm triggered by a supervisor overriding a security zone
- A signal sent to authorities when an alarm is manually activated
- A periodic check-in signal from a guard making rounds
Correct answer: A signal indicating a problem with the alarm system itself, such as a low battery or open tamper switch
A supervisory signal alerts monitoring personnel to a trouble condition in the alarm system itself—such as a low battery, tamper switch activation, or communication failure.
Question 6: Which type of card technology stores data in a magnetic stripe and is considered least secure due to ease of duplication?
- Proximity (125 kHz) card
- Smart card (ISO 7816)
- Magnetic stripe card (Correct answer)
- MIFARE DESFire card
Correct answer: Magnetic stripe card
Magnetic stripe cards store data in an easily readable and clonable format using simple, inexpensive equipment, making them the least secure credential technology.
Question 7: What security principle does 'defense in depth' apply when designing physical security systems?
- Layering multiple independent security controls so that defeating one does not compromise the whole system (Correct answer)
- Placing all security resources at the outermost perimeter
- Using one highly reliable system instead of many redundant ones
- Prioritizing digital over physical security measures
Correct answer: Layering multiple independent security controls so that defeating one does not compromise the whole system
Defense in depth uses multiple, overlapping security layers (fencing, lighting, cameras, access control, guards) so an adversary must overcome each layer independently.
SSP Security Technology & Systems 4
In CCTV systems, what does 'resolution' expressed in TVL (TV lines) measure?